Container-less custom beverage vending invention
First Claim
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1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
- a plurality of reservoirs holding a respective plurality of separate ingredients to be used in customizable beverage recipes;
a dosing system, interconnected to the plurality of reservoirs, for controlling a concentration of any ingredient among the plurality of separate ingredients, according to a predefined dosing amount to be dispensed for each ingredient among the plurality of separate ingredients for a particular beverage recipe among the customizable beverage recipes;
a controller coupled to the dosing system, for receiving user preferences for a beverage and controlling the dosing system to select any combination among the plurality of separate ingredients according to the user preferences, such that the dosing system controls selection of certain combinations and concentrations among the plurality of separate ingredients based on the user preferences to form one or more selected ingredients, such that, for each selected ingredient, the dosing system determines the predefined dosing amount by repeatedly measuring varying amounts of the respective ingredient amount being dispensed by using a differential pressure sensor or a pulse counter sensor until the predefined dosing amount reached; and
a dispense nozzle in communication with the dosing system, for independently receiving each selected ingredient and water, mixing the one or more selected ingredients and the water within the dispense nozzle and dispensing the beverage that has been mixed in the dispense nozzle.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus describing a convenience beverage vending machine and its operation are described. An embedded computer interface allows consumers to create their own drinks or choose from a menu of drinks. Drinks are dispensed in a container. The beverages may be made from hot water, cold water or carbonated water that is mixed with various flavors of syrup, sweeteners and nutritional supplements. Identification may be presented and the computer recognizes the consumer and pulls up that consumer'"'"'s account to determine funds available and previous drink selections and mixtures. The machine may incorporate an automatic cleaning cycle for both the valves and the dispense area.
154 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A beverage dispensing system comprising:
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a plurality of reservoirs holding a respective plurality of separate ingredients to be used in customizable beverage recipes; a dosing system, interconnected to the plurality of reservoirs, for controlling a concentration of any ingredient among the plurality of separate ingredients, according to a predefined dosing amount to be dispensed for each ingredient among the plurality of separate ingredients for a particular beverage recipe among the customizable beverage recipes; a controller coupled to the dosing system, for receiving user preferences for a beverage and controlling the dosing system to select any combination among the plurality of separate ingredients according to the user preferences, such that the dosing system controls selection of certain combinations and concentrations among the plurality of separate ingredients based on the user preferences to form one or more selected ingredients, such that, for each selected ingredient, the dosing system determines the predefined dosing amount by repeatedly measuring varying amounts of the respective ingredient amount being dispensed by using a differential pressure sensor or a pulse counter sensor until the predefined dosing amount reached; and a dispense nozzle in communication with the dosing system, for independently receiving each selected ingredient and water, mixing the one or more selected ingredients and the water within the dispense nozzle and dispensing the beverage that has been mixed in the dispense nozzle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification